Construction & Contractors Blog
You were disappointed after moving into your new place and discovering that the well water quality is not good. You'd never even thought of turning on the taps when you were considering buying the house, and now you're dealing with water that doesn't look, smell or taste the way you want it to. Four problems are relatively common in well water even if it's been verified as safe for drinking. Fortunately, softeners and filtration systems can resolve these issues.
High Content of Hard Minerals
Calcium and magnesium are relatively common in tap water, even in municipalities. However, high levels of these minerals cause problems with scaly buildup around faucets, on shower curtains and doors, and on edges of fixtures. Hard minerals also decrease the ability of soap to lather, leading people to use more bath soap, shampoo and laundry detergent.
Another mineral that sometimes shows up in well water is manganese. This material can be particularly annoying because it settles at the bottom of sinks, shower stalls and bathtubs as fine blue-black silt. It's easily cleaned away, but it can stain fabric.
Iron
When iron levels are high enough, the water takes on an orange or yellow hue that can gradually discolor laundry. It also can gradually stain sinks, showers, shower doors and curtains, and bathtubs. The water smells and tastes metallic, and a significant iron content can even affect the taste of coffee and other beverages and foods made with tap water.
Iron Bacteria
Not all wells with iron have iron bacteria, but you'll probably know if yours does. Iron bacteria can cause unpleasant odors that are reminiscent of swamps or sewage. Standing water in enclosed places, such as that in the toilet tank, can appear slimy or oily on top, and toilet tanks with iron bacteria tend to turn orange or reddish-brown.
Iron bacteria aren't harmful to health, but they are certainly a nuisance.
Sulfur
Hydrogen sulfide gas and sulfur bacteria produce the classic rotten-egg smell that people find so disagreeable. You certainly don't want that odor in your drinking water or to smell it while taking a shower or bath. Sulfur bacteria also can increase the growth of iron bacteria.
Concluding Thoughts
Hard minerals, iron, iron bacteria or sulfur are generally not considered harmful substances in water, but they decrease a person's satisfaction. Contact water treatment companies in your area to learn about equipment that can significantly reduce or even eliminate these materials from your water. Contact companies like Waterman911 for more information.
Share6 February 2015
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
